Circular knitting machine



Sept. 13, 1932. T, c, BRO L' v 1,877,220

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Original Filed se t, 2?, 192a ,3s eets sheet 1f P 1932- I I T. CHBROMLEY 1,877,220

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 27. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2' Sept. 13,1932. T, c, BROML Y 1,877,220

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 27; 1926 a Sheets-Sheet a i uj (2/1/52 Patented Sept. 13, 1932 THOMAS CHARLES BROMLEY, OF LEICESTER, ENGLAND,

nssrenon T0 'ucounnn' V KNITTING MACHINE COMPANY, INC., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A'COR-' PORATION OF NEW YORK CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Application filed September 27, 1926, Serial No. 137,987, and in Great Britain October 1, 1925. Renewed September 16, 1931. 1 o

This invention relates to circular knitting 'machines and has reference to machines of this kind furnished with jacquard mechanism adapted to control the'action of the .needles for producing pattern effects in the knitted fabric.

The object of the invention'is to provide in or for a circular knitting machine of the type having slidable needles, an improved form of jacquard mechanism, the main features of improvement comprising, simplicity and cheapness of construction, certainty in action,

capability of ready adaptation to produce vap riation in the action for obtaining pattern effects, individual needle control and anarrangement by which the wear upon the ]ac= quard member, due to the engagement and disengagement of thefeelers therewith and therefrom is reduced to a minimum.

The last mentioned feature of improvement is an important one where, as is mainly intended in the present case, jacquard mem bers of paper or similar thin material are employed as it prolongs the useful life of such members.

The feature of individual needle control is also important since by being able to control each needle of the machine separately and independently by the jacquard the pattern can be varied to a greater extent than is the case where two or more needles are con trolled together.

The invention therefore consists of jacquard mechanism which includes a racking drum or cylinder carrying the pattern member, a series of feelers mechanically brought into and out of contact with the pattern member, 21 series of selectors for actuating the needles, and connecting means between the feelers and selectors such that movement is imparted to the selected needles by the selectors actuated by the drum.

According to the preferred arrangement the whole of the requisite movement of the selected needles is imparted entirely by the lectors, 1y by the cam operating through the medium selectors. For instance, ifthe selected neeg dles are to beraised to clearing height whilstf.

the other needles not selected remain down and miss the. yarn, they are raised to the desired height by the selectors.

The invention includes as a modification an arrangement wherein there 1s provided in addition to the parts aforesaid a cam" whereby, follqwing initial movement of the selected selectors by racking'drum or cylinder to bring them into the ,path of the cam said selectors are further actuated so as to comlete. the operation of the'correspondingneedles. In this arrangement theselectedneedles are therefore actuated partly by the sefeelers and racking drum and part of the selectors, I i

In each'of the aforesaid arrangements the drum or cylinder carrying the pattern member is longitudinally grooved and-as the' pattern member, which may consist of a paper or other band, passes over the drum the transverse rows of'holes in said member comeinto register with the grooves; Whenthe feelers are moved into contact with the pattern member those which are allowed b the holes to pass through said member rop into the groove, and upon the cylinder being racked on, are drawn forward by the latter so that responding selectors are actuated to" bring about the operation dles in the desired manner as will scribed later herein. pass through the pattern member are subsequently moved by the grooved drum or cylinder, the said member is not called upon be de- Since the feelers which 75 through the intermediate connections,the cor.-

the corresponding. nee- I air to do this work, its sole duty being to prevent certain of the feelers from engaging wlth the grooved drum. A cam is provided for restoring the selected selectors and corresponding feelers to the normal posit-ion subsequently to their action as aforesaid.

Further the feelers conveniently: consist of levers which are mounted to be capable link or to the selected needles.

I 1 igure dis a planshowing one manne of connecting the selectorswith theiroperat motion by cam actuated mechanism.

of the erative relationship is in the orm of a bell-crank lever so disposed that while one limb to which the connecting link is attached isacted upon by the cam or cams (according to the arrangement employed) the other'limb serves to raise the corresp'ondin needle in the needle cylinder of the machine either directly or through the medium of a jack.

The feelers are moved pivotally away from the grooved drum by a reciprocating or oscillating member such as a bar which receives it In order that the invention may be more clearly and readily understood arrangements constituting practical examples of the same designed for application toa circular latch nee le knitting machine of the stationary needle cylinder type will now be described with reference to the accompanying draws ings wherein Figure 1. is a sectional side elevation of an arrangement wherein the selectors are actuated wholly by the feelers and racking drum for imparting the desired movement Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation em Ioy in. said arrangement. a a 1gure'3 1s a detail view of a cam for rest i the selectors to normal positionalin links.

1 V-- of Figure -1 is a dia'gr m illustrat'-' Figure 6 ingt e dis osi'tion of a plurality of jacquard units roun themachine. 1

. Figure 7 is-a sectional side elevation of a modificati'om'of the arrangement shown in Fi e nann ofthe o rativ'e relationship between cams employe in'the'modified arrangement.

Referring to Figure 1, there is provided for each needlel in the cylinder 2 a pivoted selector 3,- a pivotal and sliding feeler 4 and a connection consisting'of a link 5- between these two parts. The selectors which are of bell crank form are each disposed vertically and radially or substantially radially with one limb 30 extending horizontally into the corresponding needle trick 6 and acting against between cams gore 5 is'a nationalities-tass l; line:

diagrammatic representation a butt 7 on the lower end of a jack 8 asso-- ciated with the needle, and the other limb 36 standing up adjacent to but normally clear of the circular track of a cam 9 (see also Figure 3) attached to and rotating with a circular carrier plate 10 rotating with the cam box 11 of the machine.

The selectors are mounted in a tricked bed 12 located in the machine bed 13 and are each pivoted independently of the others by means of a pin 14 which rests in grooves or recesses 15 cutin the sides of the tricks. I The feelers are carried by a grooved block 16 mounted on a bracket 17 in turn attached to the machine bed 13, which bracket also supports a rotatable jacquard drum 18 provided with grooves a few of which are shown at 19. Each feeler has a slot 20 therein so that in addition to turning on the "pivot pin 21 in the block it can also slide to and fro. Be-

tween the inner end of the feeler and the upstanding limb of the corresponding selector is the connecting link 5 pivotally attached to the parts in a suitable manner. At the outer end the feeler has formed upon it a [downwardly extending nose 4a for engagement with the grooved jacquard drum situated thereunder, and at the inner end it is formed with a hook 4b to which is connected a spring 22 attached to :1 lug on the block 16 whereby the feeler is drawn upwards, the

- effect of which is to press the nose 4a downwards upon the pattern band'member 23 and drum. 4 v

Carried by links 24 pivoted at 25 on the bracket 16 is a lifter bar 26 arranged transversely under'the feelers this bar being lifted up and down by a lever 27 to one end of which the links 2 1 are connected and which is ful-- i crumed at 28' on a support '29, attached to'a fixed ring 30 in which the cam carrier plate 10 revolves. The opposite end of the lever is located in the circular path ofa cam 31 mounted on the plate 10.. I Y

The jacquard drum is racked round by means of a cam 32 mountedto revolve in a carrier ring 33 suitably attached to the lower part of the machine frame, said cam imparting movement to a lever 34 'fulcrumed at 35 on a bracket 36 attached to the ring 33 which.

lever by means of a coupling link 36 actuates a suitable racking device (a part 38 of which is shown attached to the, link 37) associated withthe drum. The'lever 34 is fitted with a roller 39 for engagement by the cam.

The operation of the mechanism will, now be described with the aid of Figure 2 which as hereinbefore mentioned represents diagrammatically the operative relation of the various cams hereinbefore referred to. Normally the feelers are pulled down by their springs so that their noses rest upon the imperforate portions of the jacquard band as represented by full lines in Figure 1, or pass 51 1 5 holes therein into the corresponding groove in the drum as the case may be. The racking movement of the drum then commences that is to say the cam 32 engages the roller 39 and by means of therise 3211 (Figure 2) lifts the lever 34 and the coupling lmk and rocks the drum round in the direction of the arrow (Figure 1) so that those feelers whose noses have passed through the jacquard are drawn forward by the grooved drum, as represented by dot and dash lines 3) while the other feelers are left behind, the feelers thus moved turning the corresponding selectors on their pivots as represented at 0 so that the horizontal limbs thereof raise the corresponding needles to the.clearing position represented at (1. At this stage the drum is allowed to pause by reason of a dwell 326 on the racking cam while the cam 31 engages and actuates the lifter lever 27 "so that all the feeler levers are lifted clearof the jacquard band and drum by the lifter bar 26 after the 'selected'selectors have been actuated and before the selected feelers return to normal position, in order -to obviate wear and tear of the jacquard band. After actuation of the feelers in this manner and while they are held raised a further rise 320 on the racking cam com letes the movement of the drum to bring a resh portion of the jacquard and. another groove under the feelers, and just before the completion of this movement the cam 31 releases the lever 26 so that the lifter bar falls and allows the feelers to be ulled down again by their springs. Imme iately after the feelers are raised and before they are lowered as aforesaid the cam 9 restores the selected selectors to normal position by acting on the vertical limbs thereof, as represented in Figure 3, and consequently the feelers are brought into line again ready for further selection. The cam 32 subsequently allows the lever and coupling rod to fall in readiness for the next operation of the drum. The feeler noses are therefore disen aged from the jacquard bandand drum whi e the latter are stationary following their initial movement thereby obviating the tendency there might otherwise be on the part of the noses to drag on the band, and during the return movement of-the feelers over the band they are held clear of the band thereby preventing undue wear.

The selected needles are caused to knit in the usual manner immediately after the restoration of the selectors to the normal position.

It is found convenient to construct the connecting links so that they fit within the spaces between adjacent selectors as shown in Figure 4 and to provide them with fixed pins or studs 40 which fit into holes in the selectors, the link connected to one selector being thus kept in place by the next adjacent selector. Said links may be similarly attached to the ures 1 and 5 a catch 41 capable of yielding pivotally, if necessary against the action of a spring 42 is mounted upon an oscillatory ring 43 controlled by pattern mechanism (not shown) of the usual type and adapted to be moved into position under a lug 44 on the coupling link 37 which operates the racking means of the drum so as to hold lever 34 connected thereto from engagement with its cam. Normally the catch 41 o cupies the position shown by full lines in Figure 5. When the ring 43 is moved in the direction of the arrow as the catch is brought into line with the lug 44 as represented by dot and dash line a so that when the coupling link, next rises the lug 44 first engages the catch and causes it to yield against the action of its spring, and then releases it so that it is moved under the lug and thereby holds the coupling rod and consequently the lever 34 in the raised position.

The complete jacquard mechanism for the machine may comprise several units each of which includes, a jacquard drum and band, a series of feelers and corresponding'selectors, mechanism for racking the drum and lifting the feelers and means for putting the racking out of action. The units are disposed at intervals around the machine as re resented diagrammatically in Figure 6 t e series of feelers and selectors in each serving for corresponding needles. The needles selected by each unit are actuated simultaneously by the racking drum but the racking drums of the units are actuated in succession as the actuating cam revolves.

The pattern effects may be produced by known needle actions which actions are brought about by the jacquard mechanism.

While it is convenient in the matter of construction to employ connecting means such as pivoted links between the feelers and selectors, wemay dispense with such means and connect the feelers directly to the selectors in a suitable manner.

As regards the modification hereinbefore referred to and now to be described with reference toFigures 7 and 8 the construction arrangement and operation of the essential parts is practically the same as that described with reference to Figure 1 so that in Figure 7 only so much of the mechanism as is necessary to enable the modification to be understood is shown. The difference between the two arrangements is that in addition to the other parts of the mechanism a cam l?) .vhich is attached to the cam carrier plate 10 so as to miss the vertical limbs 37) of the selector 3, when the latter are in normal position, as the sa d plate revolves. Further the racking cam 320 (Figure 8) is designed so that the f rst rise 32c thereof operates the racking drum only to such extent as to move the selected selectors into the circular path of the cam i. e. into the position 0. during which movement the horizontal limb 3a each of said selectors raises the corresponding needle 1 from the low position shown by full lines to the intermediate e. g. tucking position h. During a pause in the movement of the drum due to the dwell 32/ the cam 45 operates the selected selectors so that they are moved to position 7' and the needles thereby raised to the high e. g. clearing position F. The grooves in the jacquard drum and the holes in the jacquard band are made large enough to permit of the slight endwise movement of the feelers due to theaction of the said cam. The further operation of the mechanism is now s milar to that previously described herein. That is to say While the drum pauses the lifter cam 31 comes into action to raise the feelers clear of the drum and band and while the feelers are held raised a further rise 32 on the racking cam completes the operation of the drum to bring a fresh series of holes and another groove into position, the cam 9 restores the selectors to normal position and consequently brings the feelers into line again, and just before the drum completes its movement the cam 31 releases the lever 27 to allow the feelers to be pulled down again by their springs.

Thus the selectors which impart the necessary movement to the selected needles are actuated partly by the feelers and racking drum and partly by the cam 45, the needles selectedfby each unit being moved simultaneously by the racking drum, but successively by the cam.

As in the previous arrangement the selected needles are caused to knit immediately after the action of the cam 9.

In each of the arrangements herein descr bed there may be as many sets of operating cams as there are jacquard units or there may be more jacquard units than sets ofcams.

For example, in a four feeder machine employing eight jacquard units there may be four sets of cams so disposed that While said units are operated in succession by each set four alternate nnitsare operated simultaneouslv While the other four are idle.

VVhat- I claim then is 1. In a circular knitting machine having slidable needles. jacquard mechanism for effecting actuation of individual needles for patterning purposes, comprising in combination, a racking drum, a jacquard member carried by said drum, a series of feelers between which and with the jacquard member there is relative to and fro movement whereby feelers are selected to engage the drum, and a series of needles engaging selectors coupled to the feelers so that upon rotary movement of the racking drum the force exerted thereby on the selected feelers is applied directly to the corresponding needles to move the latter and determine the function thereof.

2. In a circular knitting machine having slidable needles, jacquard mechanism for effecting actuation of individual needles for patterning purposes comprising, in combination,- a racking drum, a jacquard member car ried by said drum. a series of feelers movable into and out of contact with the jacquard member whereby feelers are selected to engage the drum, when required, so as to be actuated thereby, means for effecting said movement of the feelers. a series of needle engaging selectors coupled to the feelers so that upon rotation of the racking drur" the force exerted thereby upon the selected feelers is applied directly to the corresponding needles to move same and determine the function thereof and a cam for restoring the selected selectors and feelers to their original position a subsequently to their actuation by the drum.

3. In a circular knitting machine havingslidable needles, jacquard mechanism for offecting actuation of individual needles for patterning purposes comprising, in combination, a longitudinally grooved racking drum, a perforated jacquard member carried by the drum, the perforations corresponding with grooves in the drum, a series of feelers adapted to contact with the jacquard member so that those which register with perforations enter the corresponding groove in the drum and are operated thereby, means for moving the feelers relatively. to the jacquard member, a series of needle engaging selectors coupled to the feelers, so that upon rotation of the racking drum the force exerted thereby upon the selected feelers is applied directly to the corresponding needles to move the same and determine the function thereof,

and a cam for restoring the selected selectors and feelers to their original position subsequently to their actuation by the drum.

4. In a circular knitting machine having slidable needles, jacquard mechanism for effecting actuation of individual needles for patterning purposes comprising, in combination, a racking drum, a jacquard member can ried by said drum, a series of pivotal and slidable feelers adapted to contact with the jacquard member whereby feelers are selected to engage the drum when required so as to be actuated slidably thereby, an oscillatory member for engagement with the feelers. a cam for actuating said member to move the Hill slidable needles, jacquardmechani'sm for effecting actuation of individual needles for feelers pivotally away from the jacquard member, a series of needle engaging selectors coupled to the feelers so that upon rotation of the racking drum the force exerted thereby upon the selected feelers applied directly to the corresponding needles to move same and determine the function thereof,.an.d a cam for restoring the selected selectors and feelers to their original position, subsequently to their actuation by the drum.

5. In a circular knitting machine having -patterning purposes, comprising, in combinae tion, a racking drum, a jacquard membercar ried by said drum, a series of feelers movable into and out of contact with the jacquard member whereby feelers are selected to engage the drum when required, so as to be operated thereb means for efiecting said movement of the eelers, a series of pivotal needle engaging selectors connected to the feelers so that upon rotation .of the racking drum the force exerted thereby upon the selected feelers is applied directly to the correspond- 7 ing needles .to move same and determine the function thereof, and a cam for restoring the selected selectors and feelers to their-original position subsequently to their actuation by the drum.

6. In a circular knitting machine having 'slidable needles, jacquard mechanism for effecting actuation of individual needles for patterning purposes, comprising, in combina-' tion, a racking drum, a jacquard member carried by said drum, a series of spring controlled pivotal and slidable feelers adapted to contact with the jacquard vmember where- ,by feelers are selected to engage the drum when required so as to'beactuated slidably thereby, a lifter bar disposed transversely under said feelers, .pivoted'links supporting the bar, a lever connected to the bar, a camfor actuating the lever to move the feelers pivotally away from theijacquard member, a series of needle engaging selectors coupled to the feelers, so that upon rotation of the racking drum the force exerted thereby upon the selected feelers is applied directly to the corresponding needles to move same and determine the function thereof, and a cam for restoring the selected selectors and feelers to their original position subsequently to their actuation by the drum.

7. In a circular knitting machine having slidable needles, jacquard mechanism for ef- -fecting actuation of the needles for patterning purposes, comprising in combination, a drum having longitudinalgrooves therein, means for actuating the drum, a perforated jac uard member carried-by the drum, the r orations corresponding with'thegrooves 1n the drum, a series of feelers adapted to contact with the" jacquard member so that those which register with perforations enter the corresponding groove in the drum and are operated thereby, means for moving the feelers relatively to the jacquard member, aseries of needle engaging selectors coupled to the feelers so that upon rotation of the racking drum the force exerted thereby upon the selected feelersis applied directly to the corresponding needles to move same and determine the function thereof, a cam-forrcstoring the selectedlselectors and corresponding feelers to their original position subse-.

quently vto their actuation by "the drum, and

mechanism for rendering the drum actuating vmeansjmoperative.

v 8. lnacircu'lar knitting maehine havin slidable needles, jacquard mechanismfor e fecting actuation of the needles for patterning purposes, comprising, in combinatioma longitudinally grooved racking drum a perforated jacquard member carried the drum, the perforations corresponding vwith the grooves in the drum a'seriesofspring controlled pivotal and slidablefeelersadapted to contact with the jacquard member sov that those which regi'sterwith perforations enter the corresponding groove in the drum and are drawn forward thereby, an oscillatory member for engagement withathefeelers, a cam for actuating saidmember to move the feelers away from the jacquard memher, a series of needle engaging selectors coupled to the feelers, so that upon rotation of perforations corresponding .with thegrooves in the drum, a series of spring controlled pivotal and slidable feelers adapted to con-' tact with the j acquardmember so that those the correspondirg; groove in the drum and are actuated sli ably thereby, a lifterbar disposed transversely under said feelers, pivoted links supporting said bar, a lever-connected to the bar, a rotary cam for acting on said lever to lift the'feelers olf the jlacq'uard member, a series of needle engaginglselectors coupled to the feelers, so that upon rotation of the racking drum the force exerted thererectly to the corresponding needles "to move the same and determinethev'functioiithereof and a rotary cam for restoring the; selected selectors and corresponding feelersto their which register with the perforations entcrll by upon the selected feelers is applied di' original position, subsequently to their actuation by the drum. 1

10. In a circular knitting machine having slidable needles, jacquard mechanism for effecting actuation of the needles for patterning purposes, comprising in combination, a longitudinally grooved racking drum, a perforated jacquard member carried by the drum, said perforations corresponding with the groovesin the drum, a series of spring controlled pivotal and slidable feelers adaptto the corresponding needles to move same and determine the function thereof, and a rotary cam for restoring the selected selectors and feelers to their operative position subsequently to the actuation by the drum.

11. The combination with a circular knitting machine having a circular bank of stitch-forming-elements movable for patterning purposes, of a pattern mechanism comprising a movable pattern-holding member having at least one feeler-receiving recess therein, a perforated pattern carried thereby, the perforations therein corresponding with the recess or recesses in said pattern-holding member, a series of feelers to contact with the pattern so that those which register with perforations enter the recess or recesses of said pattern-holding member for engagement with the latter and for movement by the latter as the latter is moved, a series of selectorscoupled to said feelers for actuation thereby and related to said stitch-formingelements to actuate the same as the selectors are actuated by said feelers, and means for moving said pattern-holding member while feelers extend through pattern-perforations into said recess or recesses to thereby move selected feelers, selectors and stitch-formingelements.

12. The subject matter of claim 11, charactcrized by the fact that the last mentioned means moves the pattern-holding member to such an extent that the selected stitch-forming-elements are moved thereby the whole distance required for patterning purposes.

13. The subject matter of claim 11, characterized by the fact that the last mentioned poses, in combination with a cam revolving I around the axis of the knittin r machine for completing the movement 0 the partlymoved stitch-forming-elements.

14. The combination with a circular knitting machine having a circular bank of stitch-forming-elements movable for pattern purposes, of a pattermmechanism comprising a plurality of pattern-holding members each having at least one feeler-receiving recess therein, a perforated pattern carried by each of said members, the perforations in g the patterns corresponding with the recess or recesses in the respective pattern-holding members, a series of feelers to contact with each of said patterns so that those which register with perforations enter the recess or recesses of the respective pattern-holding memher for engagement with the latter and for movement by the latter as the latter is moved, 5

selectors respectively coupled to said feelers for actuation thereby and related to said stitch-forming-elements to actuate the same as the selectors are actuated by said feelers,

and means for moving said pattern-holding 9b drum having a plurality of feeler-receiving 1m recesses therein, a perforated pattern carried thereby, the perforations therein corresponding with the recesses of the drum, aseries of feelers to contact with the pattern so that those which register with perforations enter the recesses of the drum for engagement by the drum and for movement by the drum as, the drum is rotated, a series of selectors coupled to said feelers for actuation thereby and related to said needles to slide the latter no as the selectors are actuated by said feelers,

and means for rotating the drum while feelers extend through pattern-perforations into the drum recesses to thereby move the selected feelers, selectors and stitch-forming elements.

16. The combination with a circular knit ting machine having a circular bank of stitch-forming-elements movable for patterningpurposes, of a pattern mechanism comprising'a movable pattern-holding mem; ber having at least one feeler-receiving recess therein, a perforated pattern carried thereby, the perforations therein corresponding with the recess or recesses of said patternholding member, a series of feelers to contact with the pattern so that those which register with perforations enter the recess or recesses of said pattern-holding member for engagement with the latter and for move- M0,

ment by the latter as the latter is moved, a

. series of selectors respectively related to said selectors to said cam for movement thereby.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. THOMAS CHARLES BROMLEY. 

